Doctors say planting more trees will cut urban heatwave deaths  Â
Trees are essential for mitigating heatwaves, which kill more Australians than any other disaster, say Doctors for the Environment Australia
Doctors have sounded the alarm over a lack of canopy cover in cities, saying trees are an essential measure to save lives during heatwaves.Â
According to Doctors for the Environment (DEA) it’s because of the humble tree’s crucial role in cooling air temperatures through both shade and transpiration.Â
As an example they pointed to a temperature difference taken between two neighbouring streets in a western Sydney suburb, Toongabbie.Â
On a hot day last month, a tree-lined street’s surface temperature was found to be 20 degrees cooler than a parallel street with few trees; 29C v 50C.
